Subaru Impreza 2023 Seatbelt pretensioners Base Sedan
As part of its safety system, the base 2023 Subaru Impreza sedan has seatbelt pretensioners installed. Important safety devices known as seatbelt pretensioners cause the seatbelts to automatically retract and tighten in the case of an abrupt halt or collision. By keeping passengers tightly strapped into their seats, this device lowers the possibility of forward movement and possible injury during a collision. Seatbelt pretensioners, which Subaru installed in the Impreza, improve the car’s overall safety by guaranteeing that passengers are securely buckled up during emergency situations and making driving a safer experience for all.
2024 Subaru Impreza Specs, Price, Features, Mileage (Brochure)
Seatbelt pretensioners
The following seatbelts have a seatbelt pre-tensioner.
- Driver’s seatbelt
- Front passenger’s seatbelt
- Rear passenger’s seatbelt (window-side)
The seatbelt pre-tensioners are designed to be activated in the event of an accident involving a moderate to severe frontal and side collision and rollover accident.
WARNING
- To obtain maximum protection, the occupants should sit in an upright position with their seatbelts properly fastened.
- Do not modify, remove, or strike the seatbelt retractor assemblies equipped with seatbelt pre-tensioners or the surrounding area. This could result in accidental activation of the seatbelt pre-tensioners or could make the system inoperative, possibly resulting in serious injury. Seatbelt pretensioners have no user-serviceable parts. For required servicing of seatbelt retractors equipped with seatbelt pre-tensioners, consult your SUBARU dealer.
- When discarding seatbelt retractor assemblies equipped with seatbelt pretensioners or scrapping the entire vehicle due to collision damage or for other reasons, consult your SUBARU dealer.
NOTE
- Seatbelt pretensioners are not designed to activate in minor impacts or in rear impacts.
- Pretensioners are designed to function on a one-time-only basis. In the event that pretension is activated, both the driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelt retractor assemblies should be replaced only by an authorized SUBARU dealer. When replacing seatbelt retractor assemblies, use only genuine SUBARU parts.
- If a seatbelt that has a seatbelt pretensioner does not retract or cannot be pulled out due to a malfunction or activation of the pretensioner, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.
- If the seatbelt retractor assembly or surrounding area has been damaged, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.
- When you sell your vehicle, we urge you to inform the buyer that the vehicle is equipped with seatbelt pretensioners. Also, notify the buyer of the contents in this section.
Driver’s seatbelt
The driver’s seatbelt has a shoulder belt pretensioner.
Front seatbelt pretensioner
The pre-tensioner sensor also serves as follows.
- SRS frontal airbag sensor
- Side impact sensor
- Front door impact sensor
- Rollover sensor
If the sensor detects a certain predetermined amount of force during frontal or side collisions or rollover accidents, any seatbelt that has a seatbelt pre-tensioner is quickly drawn back in by the retractor to take up the slack so that the belt more effectively restrains the seat occupant.
The driver’s seatbelt pre-tensioner includes a tension-reducing device that limits the peak forces exerted by the seatbelt on the occupant in the event of a collision.
When a seatbelt pre-tensioner is activated, an operating noise will be heard and a small amount of smoke will be released. These occurrences are normal and not harmful. This smoke does not indicate a fire in the vehicle.
Once the seatbelt pre-tensioner has been activated, the seatbelt retractor remains locked. Consequently, the seatbelt cannot be pulled out and retracted and therefore must be replaced.
In cases of a rollover accident, frontal collisions or side collisions, the following components will operate simultaneously.
Front passenger’s seatbelt
- Seatbelt retractor assembly (shoulder belt pre-tensioner and adaptive force limiter)
- Lap belt pretensioner
On the front passenger’s side, the shoulder belt pre-tensioner is supplemented by a lap belt pre-tensioner, which is located at the base of the center pillar. Like the shoulder belt pre-tensioner, the lap belt pretensioner instantaneously pulls in the belt to eliminate slack if a certain level of frontal collision force is detected. As a result, the seatbelt restrains the front seat occupant more effectively. The front passenger’s seatbelt pre-tensioner includes a tension-reducing device that limits the peak forces exerted by the seatbelt on the occupant in the event of a collision. The adaptive force limiter will select a reducing load to the suit body size of the occupant as detected by the occupant detection sensor. When a seatbelt pre-tensioner is activated, an operating noise will be heard and a small amount of smoke will be released. These occurrences are normal and not harmful. This smoke does not indicate a fire in the vehicle. Once the seatbelt pre-tensioner has been activated, the seatbelt pre-tensioner remains locked. Consequently, the seatbelt cannot be pulled out and retracted and therefore must be replaced. A diagnostic system continually monitors the readiness of the seatbelt pre-tensioner with the ignition switch in the “ON” position. The seatbelt pre-tensioners share the control module with the SRS airbag system. Therefore, if any malfunction occurs in a seatbelt pretensioner, the SRS airbag system warning light will illuminate.
In cases of a rollover accident, frontal collisions or side collisions, the following components will operate simultaneously
| Driver’s side seatbelt pretensioner | Front passenger’s side shoulder belt pretensioner | Front passenger’s side lap belt pretensioner | SRS frontal airbag for driver | SRS frontal airbag for front passenger |
SRS curtain airbags |
SRS side air- bags |
||
| Rollover accidents | * | * | — | — | — | *
both sides |
— | |
| Frontal collisions | * | * | * | * | **1 | — | — | |
| Offset frontal collisions | * | * | * | * | **1 | *
both sides |
— | |
| Side collisions | **3 | **4 | — | — | — | *
impacted side |
**2
impacted side |
|
| Rear impact | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Minor impact | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Activated
Not activated
- This does not operate if the occupant detection system deactivates airbag operation.
- When both the satellite saving sensor and any of the center pillar impact sensors/front door impact sensors sense an impact force.
- When both the satellite saving sensor and the driver’s side front door impact sensor sense an impact force. However, when a center pillar impact sensor detects a signal faster than the front door impact sensor or both sensors detect signals simultaneously, the seatbelt pretensioner does not activate.
- When both the satellite saving sensor and the front passenger’s side front door impact sensor sense an impact force.
- However, when a center pillar impact sensor detects a signal faster than the front door impact sensor or both sensors detect signals simultaneously, the seatbelt pretensioner does not activate.
System Servicing
WARNING
- When discarding a seatbelt retractor assembly or scrapping the entire vehicle damaged by a collision, consult your SUBARU dealer.
- Tampering with or disconnecting the system’s wiring could result in accidental activation of the seatbelt pre-tensioner and/or SRS airbag or could make the system inoperative, which may result in serious injury. Do not use electrical test equipment on any circuit related to the seatbelt pre-tensioner and SRS airbag systems. For required servicing of the seatbelt pretensioner, consult your nearest SUBARU dealer.
CAUTION
If you need service or repair in those areas or near the front seatbelt retractors, have the work performed by your authorized SUBARU dealer.
NOTE
If the front or side part of the vehicle is damaged in an accident to the extent that the seatbelt pretensioner does not operate, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.
Precautions against vehicle modification.
Always consult your SUBARU dealer if you want to install any accessory parts to your vehicle.
CAUTION
Do not perform any of the following modifications. Such modifications can interfere with proper operation of the seatbelt pretensioners.
- Attachment of any equipment (bush bar, winches, snow plow, skid plate, etc.) other than genuine SUBARU accessory parts to the front end.
- Modification of the suspension system or front-end structure.
- Installation of a tire of different sizes and construction from the tires specified on the vehicle placard attached to the driver’s door pillar or specified for individual vehicle models in this Owner’s Manual.
Rear Seat Reminder (models with combination meter display (color LCD)) S01AT
This function prompts the driver to confirm the presence of passengers and cargo in the rear. This function will be activated when the rear doors are opened and closed. It alerts the driver by warning messages on the combination meter display (color LCD) and beeps when the ignition switch is turned from the “ON” position to the “OFF” position.
NOTE
- This function does not directly detect passengers and cargo in the rear seat.
- This function detects the opening and closing of the rear doors. In this situation, there is the possibility that the following phenomenon may occur.
- It may alert the driver even if there are no passengers or cargo in the rear seat.
- It may not alert the driver even if there are passengers and cargo in the rear seat.
- This function can be turned ON/OFF using the meter customizing function.
- The ON/OFF setting will not be changed even if the ignition switch is turned to the “OFF” position.
- The ON/OFF setting will be returned to the default setting if the battery is removed.
Child restraint systems
Safety precautions
Infants and small children should always be placed in an infant or child restraint system in the rear seat while riding in the vehicle. You should use an infant or child restraint system that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, is compatible with your vehicle, and is appropriate for the child’s age and size. Children could be endangered in an accident if their child restraint systems are not properly secured in the vehicle. When installing the child restraint system, carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions. According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. All U.S. states and Canadian provinces require that infants and small children be restrained in an approved child restraint system at all times while the vehicle is moving.
Lock release knob
- Unlocked
- Locked
- Unlocking marker in red
WARNING
- Before installing a child restraint system, be sure to confirm that the seatback is securely locked into place. Otherwise, in an accident, serious injury or death could result.
- Do not leave children in the car unattended. High interior temperatures may cause heat stroke and dehydration that result in serious injury or death.
WARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap or in his or her arms while the vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child (or infant) from injury in a collision, because the child will be caught between the passenger and objects inside the vehicle. Additionally, holding a child in your lap or arms in the front seat exposes that child to another serious danger. Since the SRS airbag deploys with considerable speed and force, the child could be injured or even killed.
WARNING
Children should be properly restrained at all times. Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on any seat. Unrestrained children will be thrown forward during a sudden stop or in an accident and can be injured seriously.
Additionally, children standing up or kneeling on or in front of the front seat are exposed to another serious danger. Since the SRS airbag deploys with considerable speed and force, the child could be injured or even killed.
Safety tips for installing child restraint systems
WARNING
- Child restraint systems and seatbelts can become hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a small child. Check the child restraint system before you place a child in it.
- Do not use a seatbelt extender. If a seatbelt extender is used when installing a child restraint system, the seatbelt will not securely hold the child restraint system. Use of a seatbelt extender could cause death or serious injury to children or other passengers in sudden braking, swerving, or accidents.
- Attach the child restraint system to the anchors properly. When using the LATCH anchors, be sure that there are no foreign objects around the anchors. Make sure the child restraint system is securely attached. Otherwise, it may cause death or serious injury to children or other passengers in sudden braking, swerving, or accidents.
- Do not leave an unsecured child restraint system in your vehicle. Unsecured child restraint systems can be thrown around inside of the vehicle in a sudden stop, turn, or accident; they can strike and injure vehicle occupants as well as result in serious injuries or death to the child.
CAUTION
When you install a child restraint system, follow the manufacturer’s instructions supplied with it. After installing the child restraint system, check to ensure that it is held securely in position. If it is not held tight and secure, the danger of your child suffering personal injury in the event of an accident may be increased.
Where to place a child restraint system
The following descriptions are SUBARU’s recommendations on where to place a child restraint system in your vehicle.
WARNING
- Several types of child restraint systems may conceal the buckle of the neighboring seat. If the occupant of the neighboring seat cannot correctly fasten the seatbelt, that person must move to a different seat. If the seatbelt can-not be correctly fastened, there is the risk of serious injury or death in the event of sudden braking or a collision.
- If the child restraint system cannot be correctly installed because it contacts the driver’s seat, moves the child restraint system to a different seat. If it cannot be installed in a different seat (other than the driver’s seat), adjust the front seat so that contact does not occur.
A: Front passenger’s seat
You should not install a child restraint system (including a booster seat) due to the hazard to children posed by the passenger’s airbag.
B: Rear seat, window-side seating positions Recommended positions for all types of child restraint systems. In these positions, the following equipment is provided for installing a child restraint system.
- Automatic Locking Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) seatbelts
- Lower anchorages (bars)
- Upper anchorages (tether anchorages) Some types of child restraint systems might not be able to be secured firmly due to the projection of the seat cushion.
In this seating position, you should use only a child restraint system that has a bottom base that fits snugly against the contours of the seat cushion and can be securely retained using the seatbelt.
C: Rear seat, center seating position In this position, the following equipment is provided for installing a child restraint system.
- ALR/ELR seatbelts
- Lower anchorages (bars)
- Top tether anchorages
Some types of child restraint systems might not be able to be secured firmly due to the projection of the seat cushion. In this seating position, you should use only a child restraint system that has a bottom base that fits snugly against the contours of the seat cushion and can be securely retained using the seatbelt. The rear center seat includes lower anchorages and the lower anchorages on the center side of the rear right seat can be used to install a child restraint system. When a child restraint system is installed in the rear center seat using the lower anchorages, do not sit in the rear seat. If a child restraint system is not correctly fixed in place (for example, if a child restraint system can be moved more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) from side to side), the child restraint system should be moved to a window seat position of the rear seat.
WARNING
- Even with advanced airbags, children can be seriously injured by the airbag. Seat children in the rear seat properly restrained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable speed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially if they are not restrained or improperly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater.
For that reason, be sure to secure ALL types of child restraint systems (including forward-facing child restraint systems) in the REAR seats at all times. You should choose a restraint system that is appropriate for the child’s age, height and weight. According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. - Do not use lower anchorages (bars) for a seat in the center seating position unless a child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions permit and specify using anchors spaced as far apart as those in this vehicle.
- Do not connect two or lower hooks onto the same anchorage (bar).
WARNING
- SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A PASSEN-GER’S SRS AIRBAG, NEVER IN-STALL A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN THE FRONT PASSENGER’S SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
- Do not allow children to lean their heads or any other parts of their bodies against the door or the area of the seat, front and rear pillars or roof side rails. The SRS side airbags and SRS curtain airbags deploy even if children are seated in the child restraint system, and the impact could cause death or serious injury to the child.
- To secure the child restraint system, be sure to comply with all installation instructions provided by the child restraint system manufacturer. Not doing so could result in death or serious injury to children in a sudden stop or accident.
Choosing a child restraint system
Choose a child restraint system that is appropriate for the child’s age and size (weight and height) in order to provide the child with proper protection. The child restraint system should meet all applicable requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for the United States or of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for Canada. It can be identified by looking for the label on the child restraint system or the manufacturer’s statement of compliance in the document attached to the system. Also, it is important for you to make sure that the child restraint system is compatible with the vehicle in which it will be used.
NOTE
Some sizes of child restraint systems may not fit the vehicle seat. Before purchasing a child restraint system, check whether it fits on the vehicle seat.
FAQ
What is the purpose of seatbelt pretensioners in the Impreza?
Seatbelt pretensioners automatically retract and tighten the seatbelts to remove any slack in the event of a sudden stop or collision, enhancing occupant restraint and safety.
How do seatbelt pretensioners work in the Impreza?
Seatbelt pretensioners activate through sensors that detect rapid deceleration, causing the seatbelts to retract and secure the occupants in their seats.
Are seatbelt pretensioners specific to certain seating positions in the Impreza?
Seatbelt pretensioners are typically installed for both the front driver and passenger seats in the Impreza.
Do the rear seats in the Impreza have seatbelt pretensioners?
The rear seats in the Impreza may not be equipped with seatbelt pretensioners, as they are commonly found in the front seats.
What type of collisions can activate the seatbelt pretensioners in the Impreza?
Seatbelt pretensioners are designed to activate in moderate to severe collisions, typically when the vehicle experiences rapid deceleration.
Can seatbelt pretensioners be manually reset after deployment?
Seatbelt pretensioners are typically a one-time use safety feature and must be replaced after a deployment.
Are there any indicators or warnings in the Impreza to show when seatbelt pretensioners have deployed?
After deployment, seatbelt pretensioners may leave visible signs of activation, but there are no specific dashboard indicators for this.
Do seatbelt pretensioners require maintenance in the Impreza?
Seatbelt pretensioners do not require regular maintenance. However, if they are deployed or show signs of damage, they should be replaced by a qualified technician.
Can seatbelt pretensioners be disabled or turned off in the Impreza?
Seatbelt pretensioners are integral to the vehicle’s safety system and are not designed to be disabled or turned off.
How do seatbelt pretensioners contribute to overall safety in the Impreza?
Seatbelt pretensioners help ensure that occupants are properly secured in their seats during a collision, reducing the risk of injury caused by excessive forward movement.
Are there any weight or height restrictions for the activation of seatbelt pretensioners in the Impreza?
Seatbelt pretensioners are typically activated based on the vehicle’s sensors and the severity of the collision, rather than occupant weight or height.
Can seatbelt pretensioners be retrofitted or added to older vehicles?
Retrofitting seatbelt pretensioners to older vehicles can be complex and may not be feasible or cost-effective.
Are seatbelt pretensioners covered by warranty in the Impreza?
Seatbelt pretensioners are typically covered by the vehicle’s overall warranty, but specific terms and conditions may apply. Check with the dealership or Subaru for details.
How can I find out if seatbelt pretensioners have deployed in the Impreza after a collision?
After a collision, a qualified technician can inspect the seatbelt pretensioners to determine if they have deployed.
Are seatbelt pretensioners a standard safety feature in the Impreza?
Seatbelt pretensioners are typically included as a standard safety feature in modern vehicles like the Impreza.
Useful Link
View Full User Guide: Subaru Impreza 2023 Base Sedan User Guide
Download Manuals: https://www.subaru.com/owners/vehicle-resources/manuals.html
2024 Subaru Impreza Specs, Price, Features, Mileage (Brochure)
